Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-06-11
From THE HERALD.


MIR p. G. Tobin's friends claim
that Dave Westenhayer defeated
him {? y or boosted that he would
do so on the morning of the election.
We would rather wish to believe
that the claim is not well founded.
Mr.. Tobin discharged the duties of
councilman conscientiously, too
scrupulously we might say with
truth, for like ourselves he has no
use for policy and expediency, right
bowers Of success and very impor-
ant cards in playing any public
game. We take no exceptions to an
honest defeat, and if Mr. Tobin was
fairly dealt with and defeated, of
course he has no reason to complain
and does not. We could see no
reason for Dave Westenhaver de
feating Mr.. Tobin, unless it was be-
cause there is too much republican,
ism INDEPENDENCE in the old Irish
gentleman for young political as
pirant. Like the woman in church
meeting for the organization of
charitable society, it might have
been: "Sit down there, you black
Republican, and hush your mouth !"
We can imagine his satanic majesty
perched on the high altar of charity
and trying to keep cool. We like
to see merit recognized and true
worth encouraged, but it should
come honorably ard justly, without
personal or political scheming of any
kind, and surely not through the
personally effected downfall of
fellow-man. The tendency in all
public and political affairs is to-
ward the self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of a
few favored ones, who will play to-
gether to that effect. A few leaders
of wealth and position stand in the
background and deal out the cards
to those who take shelter under
their wings. Happily the day is
passed when political "bosses" of
any party carry their pockets full
of indiscriminate voters, or tuck the
Irish or German vote, the greenback,
Labor or Temperance element, i'm their
bootlegs. Especially are the people
of Berkeley free and Independent, and
to their judgement and support the
just causes of men can safely trust.
Time rights all things, and the
promise is to all who suffer for jus
tice' sake.
Whetherit be well founded or not,
we may take as examples of other
worthy and aspiring young men Mr..
Walker and Mr.. Simpson, who are
ready when the party needs their
service, but always stand upon their
own feet and upon right and justice
to all. Mr.. Walker is engaged in
the laudable task of helping to get
up one of the biggest public cele-
brations Martinsburg has had for
some time, and the people and his
party should not forget that he thus
entities himselfto more and more sup
port. When there is question of
electing Corporation Attorney, or
nominating a County officer or
higher representative, insist upon
their claims and merits, though the
slate may have been male up other
wise, To them the vote of p. G..
Tobin is as good as that of VIM.
Stewart.
When the people and the body or
any party see and hear that few
leaders and monied men are so
eager to espouse the cause Of poll
teal aspirer, who is equally anxious
to be taken into such extended
shelter, their suspicious are natural
ly and reasonably aroused, and like
the thoughtful railroad man, in all
cases of doubt they take side safety.
The farmers and common people
never shoot too high, but always
about their own average, and right
they are.
After particular reflections we are
of the the opinion that Mr.. NJ. w
Martin defeated Mr.. Tobin, and that
it would be an injustice to Mr.
Westenhaver to charge him with
descending from the high calling of
the bar to the low plane of a ward
politician. Public men, and es
pecially young aspirants for popular
favor, have it in their power to make
themselves. TO be at the head of
party organizations and do all the
dirty political work necessary to
success, is all right for the proper
! persons, but experience proves that
the people are not willing to raise
such men any higher than they raise
themselves. Party often does,
where there is part majority but
in this country there are just enough
Of independent voter to elect the